Ada Bricktop Smith

Ada Beatrice Queen Victoria Louise Virginia Smith, better known as 'Bricktop,' (August 14, 1894 – February 1, 1984), American dancer, singer, vaudevillian, and self-described saloon-keeper who owned the nightclub Chez Bricktop in Paris from 1924 to 1961, as well as clubs in Mexico City and Rome, authentic, autographed postcard, with handwritten notation to Carl Van Vechten. Signed 'Bricky,' dated 1939. Additional handwritten note signed 'Eddie' [Eddie Wassermann, fellow Van Vechten scenester].

'Bricktop' has been called "... one of the most legendary and enduring figures of twentieth-century American cultural history."

Carl Van Vechten, (June 17, 1880 – December 21, 1964), celebrated American writer and photographer, was the literary executor of Gertrude Stein and a key figure of the Harlem Renaissance movement. He captured iconic images of all the key members in the worlds of Art, Theater, Music, and Literature. Van Vechten viewed his photography as a hobby; he never took commissions, he never sold photographs. He would grant permission to publish them, but had strict requirements to do so. He was a prominent fixture in 20th century photography collections with his work being included in such institutions as The Library of Congress, The Museum of The City of New York and The Smithsonian Institution.

In very good condition with original postage and markings.